What remedy do you use

[diverrick]

After being stung by something down on "the boys" while diving in the Bahamas, and seeing a young girl who had been touched on her ankle by a jellyfish part, I was wondering if I should add something to my dive kit for stings and the like. I know my little sting hurt like heck for at least a day. It fwelt like a red hot cigar was being pushed to my skin!
I have seen ads for all kinds of stuff, as well as heard stories about Peeing on it, using vinegar, meat tenderizer Etc. And of course, Benidryl.
I was curious as to what everyone has found to work the best for after sting treatments.
I was also wondring about taking along my Epi-pen that I carry for Yellow jacket stings,( I had one severe reaction a few years back) just in case I have a severe reaction from a sting, and not just pain.

 

[paolov]

if available i use heat to neutralize the stings , then i use an OTC medicine with anti inflamatory, anti pyretic etc. with steroidal content. However one thing i am sure is safe and that is;

a lotion with base of PURE HONEY. it may not work for you but it sure does work for me. aND and sure it is the safest. my mix : Honey with my saliva, honey with moisturizing lotion :scubadive

 

[beche de mer]

After being stung by something down on "the boys" while diving in the Bahamas, and seeing a young girl who had been touched on her ankle by a jellyfish part, I was wondering if I should add something to my dive kit for stings and the like.

In the northern waters of Australia we have some fearful jellyfish, including Chironex fleckeri, which can inflict the most excruciating of stings and frequently kills.

Acetic acid (vinegar) applied to the tentacles will neutralize the stinging cells. (Nematocysts.) I strongly recommend carrying some vinegar in your dive first-aid kit if the jellies are around. Some people say alcohol. That is WRONG. NEVER APPLY ALCOHOL because it makes the nematocysts discharge.

Sure, by all means carry your Epi-pen, if you have one, but it's only likely to be of use if you have an allergic reaction to the jellyfish toxin.

 

[BlueDevil]

In the northern waters of Australia we have some fearful jellyfish, including Chironex fleckeri, which can inflict the most excruciating of stings and frequently kills.

Acetic acid (vinegar) applied to the tentacles will neutralize the stinging cells. (Nematocysts.) I strongly recommend carrying some vinegar in your dive first-aid kit if the jellies are around. Some people say alcohol. That is WRONG. NEVER APPLY ALCOHOL because it makes the nematocysts discharge.

Vinegar has proven efficacy with the box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) and can be life saving. However its use with other forms of jellyfish stings has been questioned...if i recall correctly there has been some suggestion that it may worsen stings from some jellies

BD

 

[Walter]

I keep Benadryl gel and tablets along with vinegar in my Save-a-dive kit.

 

[DocVikingo]

Here's an article from Undercurrent http://www.undercurrent.org/ that you may find informative:

SafeSea -- http://scuba-doc.com/safesea.html

Best regards.

DocVikingo